There certainly was a lot of
discussion after this one. Throughout the movie we sat more or less
stunned the whole time. What? What is
this? Where is the passion?

The question remains. And
the question: Is this really Wuthering Heights?

Well, kind of. But it’s very…different. It’s low-key, quiet, contemplative. And
muddy. I’ve never seen so much mud in a
movie. Very realistic.

But “low-key”, “quiet”,
“contemplative” and “realistic” are hardly words one connects to this the most
romantic and dramatic of all gothic classics.
Where is the bitterness? Where are the tortured cries of anguish?

Yes, Heathcliff sobs enough
to break your heart when Cathy dies and is handsome enough to make any heart
throb a bit. He’s dignified, collected, quick to fight back, but he’s not
savage, volcanic or cruel like he is in the book. And Cathy’s not manipulative,
greedy or wild, like she is in the book.

So is the movie totally
wrong? Not really. It’s very daring. The changes made to
increase the role of racism in the treatment of an Afro Heathcliff are changes
of degree rather than essence and work very well with the spirit of the
novel. It’s a pity the movie stopped
before Cathy Junior and the other second generation kids grew up but that’s OK
too.

Once again it’s a case of the
book is the book and the movie is the movie. As a movie a major problem is that
much of it is so dark it’s impossible to see what we’re looking at. And there
was - dare I say it? – too much nature.

But a gripping movie and
well acted by an essentially unknown cast.
I want to see it again.